17 October 2011

When I first began blogging over 5 years ago I participated in many events throughout the blogosphere. I still participate in some of the events out there when time allows, and my old friend Elly of Elly Says Opa has resurrected her event Eat to The Beat, an event she created back in 2008, when blogging events were all the rage. I was feeling nostalgic with this cooler weather so happily decided to participate once again on this trip down memory lane to celebrate her 5 years of blogging. Congratulations Elly!!

This is an event I participated in often back in the infant stages here at More Than Burnt Toast. I thought it would be fun to reminisce about my early blogging days and support Elly as she travels down this road as well. I am calling this week Event Week since I will be participating in several events in the blogosphere.

My choice is a song by Adam Sandler that cracks me up every time..."Lunch Lady Land". So many choices like macaroni and cheese, shepherds pie, sloppy joes, chicken pot pie, pepperoni pizza, chocolate pudding, but I decided to go with "hoagies" and "grinders". For those of you not living in the Midwestern United States, like me, these are other names for submarine sandwiches (with a "grinder" being a toasted version).

This exceptional recipe for a Turkey Roast Dip with Melted Gruyere that I am offering you today is a relative of another similar sandwich called a beef dip which is a version of a submarine here in Western Canada (and perhaps the United States). According to "Wikipedia" a French Dip or a Beef Dip is a hot sandwich consisting of thinly sliced roast beef or, sometimes, other meats on a "French roll" or baguette. It is usually served au jus ("with juice"), that is, with beef juice from the cooking process to dip your sandwich in. Beef broth or beef consomme is sometimes substituted although definitely not as flavourful. I had not heard of a beef dip until I moved to Calgary in the western province of Alberta many years ago. It's very possible they may serve it in the Eastern provinces these days, but since the restaurant version usually consists of canned or powdered "jus" it is not something I would order off of the menu.

You can use that leftover turkey from Thanksgiving for this sandwich, but in my humble opinion this sandwich was put up on a pedestal using a turkey breast roasted for the occasion, cut into thin slices, and sandwiched with gooey, melted Gruyere cheese. All dipped in it's own flavourful "jus". I enjoyed this sandwich immensely not only for flavour but for ease of preparation.

As I have mentioned before I am now working 6 days a week so I roasted the turkey breast on the weekend and when making the sandwich for the weekday heated the meat briefly in the microwave. You could also reheat the turkey in its own "jus," it is definitely up to you. The "jus" with the wine, herbs, garlic and roasting juices is quite simply the best I have ever eaten!!! You know those dishes that if ever you were to write a cookbook it would be included, or the recipe that your friends always ask for! This is it!!! Comfort food at its best!! Since the song "Lunch Lady Land" talks about navy beans in the same breath I served it with a navy bean salad and some crispy fingerling potatoes.

*Watch this original video with Adam Sandler from Saturday Night Live with a tribute to Chris Farley. R.I.P.

"In Lunch Lady Land, your dreams come true.

Clouds made of carrots and peas.

Mountains built of shepherd's pie

And rivers made of macaroni and cheese.

But don't forget to return your trays

And try to ignore my gum disease.

No student can escape

The magic of Lunch Lady Land.

Oh..

Hogies and grinders.

Hogies and grinders.

Hogies and grinders.

Navy beans.
Navy beans.
Navy beans."

**Turkey Roast Dip with Melted Gruyere**

very loosely based on recipe from Kelsey Nixon

Turkey Breast:

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped

1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary

Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper

olive oil

1 large onion, roughly chopped

2 cloves garlic

2 cups low-sodium chicken broth

3/4 cup white wine

3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

1 (5-pound) whole turkey breast

Sandwich:

6 Italian Calabrese buns or hoagie buns

2 tablespoons olive oil

12 slices Gruyere cheese

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

For the turkey: In a small mixing bowl, mix together a little olive and fresh herbs. Add enough olive oil to moisten the herbs since these will be smeared onto the turkey breast. Season the breast with salt and pepper and set aside.

Scatter the onions on the bottom of a roasting pan just large enough to hold the turkey breast. Add the chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, garlic cloves and 1 cup of white wine. Set the meat breast-side up in the pan. Bake at 400° for 1- 1 1/2 hours or until a thermometer registers 165°. Let stand for 15 minutes. Discard turkey skin. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board and tent loosely with foil for 30 minutes. (The breast temperature will continue to rise to 170 degrees as it rests.)

For the sandwich: Preheat the broiler. Brush each side of the sliced bread with olive oil and place on a baking sheet, oiled side up. Top each buttered baguette with sliced cheese. Place under the broiler until the cheese melts and begins to turn golden brown.

Carefully remove from the oven. Pile the sliced turkey on the bottom half of each sandwich before topping it with the cheesy top. Serve the turkey "au jus, " with the sauce in a small bowl for dipping.

Serves 6

You are reading this post on More Than Burnt Toast at http://morethanburnttoast.blogspot.com. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to the author and or owner of More Than Burnt Toast. All rights reserved by Valerie Harrison.

20 comments:

For sure this would be a hit at our place. We love the French dip and I also make a chicken in a bun that you did in a BBQ chicken gravy. This one seems righ up our alley; printing it out. I love someting like this on the weekend.Five years blogging; Congratulations!Rita

I am one of those people who have seen almost every Adam Sandler movie and I don't recall that song. Although I couldn't listen to it since its the middle of the night and I wake my hubby listening to it on my phone but it's looks funny.

Your sandwich on the other hand looks divine. I can imagine dipping into the juice and eating it with that hot gooey cheese and roasted turkey. Yum!

Of course if you live in Westchester County NY (or lower Fairfield County CT) it's neither sub, nor grinder, nor hoagie, nor hero but a WEDGE. Folks in my neck of the woods are passionate about their terminology!

A French Dip is always a French Dip though. Never had one iwth turkey or with cheese. I'm smitten!

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My blog More Than Burnt Toast has been my passion for almost 12 years and has evolved with me over time as I have gained confidence in the kitchen. Follow my travels through Italy and Greece one recipe at a time, upcoming cooking classes at local Okanagan wineries and restaurants, as well as daily experimentation in my own kitchen. Every day we should be excited about what we are eating even if it just means making use of a wonderful find at our local farmers market. I look forward to getting to know you.